Assigwob to stewabt



F. G. WHITTlGTON.

AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I5, I92o.

Patented June 14, 1921.

UNITED STATES IREDERIK G. WHI'ITINGTON, OF CIVIICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 STEWART- PATENT OFFICE.

`WARNER SPEEDOMETER CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPO- invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Bumpers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

Vforming a part thereof. v

VThe Vpurpose of this invention is to provide an automobile bumper bar with supplemental impact means or members extending` above and below the bar itself to engage projecting parts of other vehicles, particularly other bumper bars, which may be vmounted either higher orV lowerrthan the main bar ofthe presentV device. It con-A sists of the features and elements and their combination hereinafter described and shownin the drawings as indicated by the claims.

In the drawings: ,Y

. Figure 1 is arfront elevationof an automobile bumper embodying this invention.

i Fig. 2 `is a top `plan view of the same taken partly in section as indicated at line 2 2 on Fig. 1.

Fig.` 3v is a detail section of a clamp taken as indicated at line 3 3 on Fig. 2.

The bumper. bar, 1, illustrated in they drawingsjis ofsomewhat conventional design arranged to be supported upon a vehicle frame by means of carrying arms 2 2.

.The arms, 2, are frictionally clamped to the fittings, 3, which may bev bar, 1, by clam adjustedlateral y on the. bar, 1, so as to accommodate .the arms, 2,Y to a variety of frame widths. Whenfa bumper of this type consisting simplyof the parts 1, 2 and 3 is used alone, there is likelihood that a similar bum er or one of different design carried on anotlier vehicleV will be mounted either a little higher or alittle lower so that as the vehicles approach the bumper bars-will not engage each other but one will pass over the other and unless the vehicles are perfectly alinedthe bumper vbars willnot strike the tires but may do damage to other parts such as lamps or radiators.

The present invention therefore provides a set of supplemental impact members which are shown in Fig. 1 as short, flat bars, 4,

extending obliquely across the impact bar,

. AUTOMOBILE-BUMPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.- Patented June 14, 1921.

y Application led November 15, 1920. Serial No. 424,031. i

1, so as to project above and below it. The bars, 4, are arranged in two sets, all the barsy of each set being parallel to cach other and the bars of the two sets being oppositely oblique with respect to the impact bar, 1. rllhe grid or frame thus formed includes half-length members, 5, and terminal members, 6, at its ends; and by connecting all the bars together by means ofpivots, 7, secured through their intersecting ends, and bolts, 8 and 9, at the intersecting mid-points of the bars, 4, the assembly constitutes a pantograph arrangement of adjustable length and somewhat variable width'. This pantograph frame is mounted on the face of the impact bar, 1by engagement of its terminal members, 6, in the clamp fittings, 3, and also by engagement of the bolts, 8.1

and 9, in apertures in the impact bar, 1.

The bolt, 8, occupies a fixed position at thev l mid-pointv of the bar, 1, while the bolts, 9,

Vare accommodated in slots, 10, which permit a limited range of movement corresponding to the range 1n adjustment of length of the pantograph frame as may be desired. It

will be understood that such adjustment in length will be made primarily to permit adjustment in the position of the clamps, 3, as the carrying arms, 2, are accommodated to the width of the particular vehicle on which the bumper is mounted.

' On account of their short length and in view of Vtheir arrangement, the supplementall impact members, 4 `and 5, need not be of as heavyA stock as the main impact bar, 1, andare shown as somewhat narrower. The clamp member, 3, is accordingly formed with a recess, 11, of just suicient width to accommodate the terminal members, 6,

which are of the same stock as the members,

4 and 5, and the recess, 11, also serves to center said members, 6, with respect tothe bar,`

l. F or more positively positioning the clamp with respect to the end of the carrying arm, 2, with which it should be always associated, said arm may be formed with an aperture, 12, and theclamping plate, 13, of g the clamp, 3, may have a slight boss, 14,

formed to engage in the aperture, 12, as shown in Fig. 3.

I claim 1. In combination with a bumper bar, a plurality of supplemental impact members extending obliquely across the bar with their spectively to the ends of the other set to forma frame or grid of greater height than the bar itself.

3.-In the combination defined in claim 2 the impact members of each set being parallel to each other.

4:. In the combination defined in claim 2 the ends of said impact members being pivotally connected together and the members of one set being lapped across the members of the other set and'pivoted thereto at their overlapping portions.

5. In combination with a bumper bar and p supporting arms therefor with laterally separated clamps on said barflby which it is secured to the arms, aV plurality of supplemental impact members extending obliquely across the bar with their end portions projecting above and below it to form a frame or grid 0f greater height than the bar itself, said frame including laterally extending terminal members secured by the said clamps for supporting the Vframe in proper relation to the bar.

6. In combination with a bumper bar and supporting arms therefor with laterally separated clamps on said bar by which it is secured to the arms,a frame or grid of greater height than the bar itself composed of two-sets of supplemental impact members disposed respectively in 'oppositely oblique `relation to said bar extending across the same with their ends projecting above and below'it, the ends of one set being connected respectively to the ends of the other set together with terminal members connected to the ends of the said frame and engaged respectively by said clamps.

7. In the combination deiined in claim G, said clamps andfsupporting arms being laterally adjustable upon thebumper bar, the

ends of the `supplemental impact members being pivotally connected together and the members of one set being also pivoted to the members of the other set at their overlapping portions whereby the frame is adjustable in length to correspond with adjust` ment in the distance between the clamps.

8. In the combination deined in claim 6 lconnections between said full-length members being pivotal and said members being also pivoted together'V in pairs at their overlapping portions to form a pantograph adapted for adjustment to tit-between the clamps on the bar.

9. In the combination defined in claim 8, said frame` having a pivot which connects a pair of overlapping impact members and 1 also engages the bumper bar iixedly at'its mid-point.

10. In combination with abumper"bar,y two sets of supplemental impact members disposed respectively in oppositely oblique relation to said bar extending across the same with their ends projecting above and below it, the ends of one Vset'being pivoted respectively to? the ends of the other set and pivots connecting the overlapping port-ions of said members between their ends, said pivots extending also through the bumper bar for securing the supplemental membersVV thereto.

1l. In the combination defined in claim 10, one of said pivots engaging the bumper bar at its mid-point and the other pivots extending through slots in the bar and being provided with clamping nuts toV hold them in adjusted position in said slots.

12. In combination with a bumper bar and supportiner arms therefor, atwo-part clamp for securing each of said arms to the bar, one member of said clamp being formed for sliding adjustment along the bar, the end of the supporting arm having a recess or aperture and the other member ofthe clamp'` beingV formed with a boss to engage saidaperture for positioning' the clamp onthe arm,

13. In combination with a bumper barV and supporting arms therefor with clamps adjustable longitudinally on the bumper bar for securing it to said-Farms, supplemental impact means comprising `a pantog'raph frame with terminallugs extending` for-en-f gagement under said clamps 'and withpivots at the intersections of its members extending through apertures in the bumper bar for additional securement of .said frame thereto.

In testimony whereof Ifha'vehereunto set my hand this 10th day of November, 1920.

FREDERIK e. l.WHITTINsfroN. 

